Omagh

Omagh (Gael. Oigh magh, 'seat of the chiefs'), the county town of Tyrone, on the Strule, 34 miles S. of Londonderry and 110 NNW. of Dublin. It grew up around an abbey founded in 792, but is first heard of as a fortress in the end of the 15th century, when it was forced to surrender to the English. It formed part of James I.'s 'Plantation' grants, and was strongly garrisoned by Mountjoy. On its being evacuated by the troops of James II. in 1689 it was partially burned, and a second fire in 1743 completed its destruction. But it has been well rebuilt, and is now a neat and prosperous town. Pop. (1851) 3385; (1891) 4039.